[Federal Register: July 29, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 145)]
[Notices]
[Page 49193-49196]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jy02-89]
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Part V
Department of Education
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Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program; Office
of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; National Institute on
Disability and Rehabilitation Research--Rehabilitation Research and
Training Centers (RRTC) Program; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program
AGENCY: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR), Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of final priority.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services announces a final priority on Disability in
Rural Communities under the Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers (RRTC) Program for the National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). The Assistant Secretary may use this
priority for competitions in FY 2002 and in later years. We take this
action to focus research attention on an identified national need. We
intend this priority to improve the rehabilitation services and
outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority is effective August 28, 2002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3412, Switzer Building,
Washington, DC 20202-2645. Telephone: (202) 205-5880 or via the
Internet: donna.nangle@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the TDD number at (202) 205-4475.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers
(RRTC) Program
The RRTCs conduct coordinated and integrated advanced programs of
research targeted toward the production of new knowledge, to improve
rehabilitation methodology and service delivery systems, alleviate or
stabilize disabling conditions, or promote maximum social and economic
independence for persons with disabilities. RRTCs operate in
collaboration with institutions of higher education or providers of
rehabilitation or other appropriate services. Additional information on
the RRTC program can be found at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/NIDRR/Programs/res_program.html#RRTC
General Requirements
The RRTC must:
Carry out coordinated advanced programs of rehabilitation
research;
Provide training, including graduate, pre-service, and in-
service training, to help rehabilitation personnel more effectively
provide rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities;
Provide technical assistance to individuals with
disabilities, their representatives, providers, and other interested
parties;
Disseminate informational materials to individuals with
disabilities, their representatives, providers, and other interested
parties;
Serve as a center for national excellence in
rehabilitation research for individuals with disabilities, their
representatives, providers, and other interested parties.
This priority reflects issues discussed in the New Freedom
Initiative (NFI) and NIDRR's Long-Range Plan (the Plan). The NFI can be
accessed on the Internet at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/freedominitiative/freedominiative.html.
The Plan can be accessed on the Internet at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/NIDRR/Products.
We published a notice of proposed priority (NPP) for the Disability
in Rural Communities in the Federal Register on May 6, 2002 (67 FR
30530). Except for minor revisions there are no differences between the
notice of proposed priority (NFP) and this notice of final priority
(NFP).
Analysis of Comments and Changes
In response to our invitation in the NPP, six parties submitted
comments on the proposed priority. An analysis of the comments and of
any changes in the priority since publication of the NPP is published
as an appendix at the end of this notice.
Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes--and
suggested changes the law does not authorize us to make under the
applicable statutory authority.
The background for the priority was published in the NPP.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use this priority, we invite applications through
a notice in the Federal Register.
When inviting applications we designate the priority as absolute,
competitive preference, or invitational. The effect of each type of
priority follows:
Absolute Priority
Under an absolute priority, we consider only applications that meet
the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive Preference Priority
Under a competitive preference priority, we give competitive
preference to an application by either (1) awarding additional points,
depending on how well or the extent to which the application meets the
priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting an application that
meets the priority over an application of comparable merit that does
not meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational Priority
Under an invitational priority, we are particularly interested in
applications that meet the invitational priority. However, we do not
give an application that meets the priority a competitive or absolute
preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Priority
This priority supports one Rehabilitation Research and Training
Center on Disability in Rural Communities. The purpose of the priority
is to generate new knowledge, through research and development
activities, that improves the effectiveness of rehabilitation services.
The RRTC project must propose research and development activities that
are focused on each of the following areas of inquiry: (1) Rural
Employment, and Community and Economic Development Policy; (2) Rural
Health and Disability; and (3) Rural Community Transportation.
(1) Rural Employment, and Community and Economic Development
Policy:
(a) Identify economic and community development policies and
evaluate their impact on the employment status of individuals with
disabilities living in rural areas, public and private service delivery
systems, and service providers;
(b) Investigate the effectiveness of policies and strategies for
addressing existing and emerging problems for individuals with
disabilities in rural communities.
(c) Identify and evaluate employment policies and employment
strategies, including those used in State vocational rehabilitation
systems, and investigate the impact on employment outcomes for
individuals with disabilities.
(2) Rural Health and Disability:
(a) Identify and investigate the needs of healthcare providers and
health care needs of individuals with disabilities in
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rural communities and factors contributing to secondary conditions.
(b) Investigate the impact of inadequate health promotion,
wellness, and prevention activities on the health status and disability
outcomes for individuals with disabilities, including secondary
disabling conditions.
(c) Develop and evaluate health promotion intervention strategies
or identify and evaluate effective health promotion strategies for
improving health outcomes for individuals with disabilities in rural
communities, including an emphasis on prevention of secondary
conditions. Investigate the impact of inadequate wellness and health
promotion on healthcare service systems in rural communities.
(d) Develop and test training materials for healthcare providers
and consumers to enhance knowledge of disability, secondary conditions,
and effective wellness and health promotion intervention strategies.
(3) Rural Community Transportation:
(a) Identify or develop and test new transportation ideas and
investigate their effectiveness to increase access for individuals with
disabilities, and assess whether they are cost effective.
(b) Investigate the impact of alternate means of transportation on
disability outcomes, especially employment and health outcomes, and
(c) Identify and investigate the impact of transportation policies,
programs, and resource allocations on access and community integration
for individuals with disabilities;
In carrying out the purposes of the priority, the RRTC must:
Disseminate information about disability issues in rural
communities;
Use advances in telecommunications and web-based
technologies, where appropriate, to ensure broad access to research
results and their practical application; and
Involve individuals with disabilities, their family
members, and consumers, as appropriate, in all stages of the research
process and related activities.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the
regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may review this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO access at: http://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.133B,
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center)
Program Authority: Sec. 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(2).
Dated: July 24, 2002.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
Appendix
Analysis of Comments and Changes
Comment: One commenter addressed the need for distance training
courses in rural areas for people with disabilities.
Discussion: An applicant could address the need for distance
training courses in rural areas for people with disabilities.
However, NIDRR has no basis to determine that all applicants should
be required to focus on this issue. The peer review process will
evaluate the merits of the proposal.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter stated that it was unclear if the
proposed RRTC will be a two-year or a five-year project.
Discussion: The proposed RRTC is a five-year project. The
reference to fiscal years 2002-2004 reflects the period of time the
priority as written is valid.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter asked for clarification of the sub-
bullets under employment, health, and transportation. The commenter
questioned if the items were examples of types of research projects
in which NIDRR is interested or mandatory projects to be addressed.
Discussion: As stated in the NPP, NIDRR designates a priority as
absolute, competitive preference, or invitational. This priority is
absolute. Therefore, the applicant must propose to address each of
the specific activities included in the priority.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter inquired as to whether the emphasis on
the term ``policy'' is meant to be a narrow prescription to conduct
research on policies only or if it can be interpreted broadly as the
continuum from policy formation, through development of strategies
to implement policies, and finally the evaluation of the impact of
policy.
Discussion: Applicants have the discretion to propose the
specific activities that the RRTC will undertake in order to fulfill
the purposes of the RRTC as set forth in the priority. Providing
this degree of discretion to applicants is an acknowledgement of the
various approaches that applicants could take. The peer review
process will determine the merits of the suggested activities.
Change: None.
Comment: The priority includes an emphasis on healthcare
providers. Given the relative shortage of healthcare providers in
many rural and remote areas, exchanging the term ``service
provider'' for ``healthcare provider'' would encourage a broader
array of potential projects that have the potential of impacting
rural residents who live in healthcare shortage areas.
Discussion: An applicant may propose to include the term service
providers in conjunction with the term healthcare providers. The
peer review process will determine the merits of the suggested
activities.
Change: None.
Comment: Two commenters expressed their concerns that
independent living (IL) was not included in this priority.
Discussion: An applicant may propose to include service
providers, including IL, in the strategies that are developed to
address issues. The peer review process will evaluate the merits of
the proposal.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter suggested that the research and
development activities include rural housing.
Discussion: An applicant could address rural housing. However,
NIDRR has no basis to determine that all applicants should be
required to focus on this issue. The peer review process will
evaluate the merits of the proposal.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter inquired as to whether NIDRR intended to
expand the responsibilities of the current RRTC or to propose
funding for a new RRTC under this proposed priority.
Discussion: NIDRR proposes to fund an applicant, selected
through the peer review process, to carry out the research agenda as
set forth in this priority. The current RRTC's responsibilities will
not be expanded by the priority.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter inquired as to the definition of the term
``healthcare providers'' and asked if this can be addressed through
a traditional medical care model, a social health care model, or a
combination of both.
Discussion: Any professional person concerned with the
maintenance or restoration of the health of the body or mind could
be considered a healthcare provider. The applicant has the
discretion to address the scope of this term. The peer review
process will evaluate the merits of the proposal.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter wanted to know if NIDRR had given any
consideration to transportation issues affecting individuals with
disabilities living in remote areas where there are no roads and
where communities are only accessible by air.
Discussion: Applicants can address transportation needs of
individuals with disabilities living in remote areas in the Rural
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Community Transportation priority area. The peer review process will
evaluate the merits of the proposal.
Change: None.
[FR Doc. 02-19119Filed 7-26-02; 8:45 am]
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